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I've taken a closer look at how the technology works on the Genie Lens website and I'm not sure the focal length will be much of a factor, Jim. Here is why. On a traditional Fresnel lens (like a lighthouse) a point source of light is redirected by the lense into parallel paths to create a beam in one direction. Here putting the light source at the focus is critical to making the beams parallel. On the Genie Lens film, the focal length is from the film to the sun and the parallel portion is between the film and the solar cell. It would seem that moving the sun across the sky would only redirect light from another part of the tempered glass and still hit the solar cell.<BR>
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The think the way this technology really works is it is bending additional light from other directions than direct-normal and also redirecting light reflected off the solar cells back into the solar cells. In essense, it is acting like an optical diode by allowing light to pass mostly one way only.<BR>
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The gains are probably real, but other drawbacks come to mind other than those already mentioned (warranty, degradation). What happens when it is hit by hail? I suspect the little optical ridges that a perfectly angled to bend and redirect light are deformed and essentially block light under a hail blemish. Also, all those little ridges are bound to be soil collectors. I think if I were to try this technology, I'd use a system that already has a 10 year (10%) degradation to see if I could bring it back to original design production. But I wouldn't do it unless I could cover it with more tempered glass to protect the surface and prevent additional soiling.<BR><BR>John Wadley, MSEE, PE<BR>NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer (TM)<BR>Wadley Engineering<BR>214-557-3841<BR><BR>> Message: 1<BR>> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2010 12:55:27 -0500<BR>> From: "North Texas Renewable Energy Inc" <ntrei@1scom.net><BR>> To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><BR>> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] The Genie Lens<BR>> Message-ID: <GPEJJFPLCDGEDNGDFOOFCENJCHAA.ntrei@1scom.net><BR>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"<BR>> <BR>> Wrenches....<BR>> <BR>> And with any Fresnel-type lens, the focal length is very critical. Applying<BR>> the film directly to the cell would be better than sticking a full sheet<BR>> onto the glass since glass thickness will vary between module brands.<BR>> <BR>> Jim Duncan<BR>> <BR>> -----Original Message-----<BR>> From: re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org<BR>> [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org]On Behalf Of Joel<BR>> Davidson<BR>> Sent: Friday, August 13, 2010 11:36 AM<BR>> To: RE-wrenches<BR>> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] The Genie Lens<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Wrenches,<BR>> <BR>> Rick Lewandowski (founder of SunWize) and his team have been making PV<BR>> modules with an optical film. See http://www.prismsolar.com/ Prism Solar's<BR>> primary advantage is less PV cell material lowers cost.<BR>> <BR>> How Prism Solar differs from SolOptics:<BR>> - film is laminated with the cell so it does not get wet,<BR>> - holographic material is UV stable and is used in extraterrestrial<BR>> applications,<BR>> - tests have shown PS holograms degrade less than 0.04% per year compared to<BR>> silicon cells at 0.5-1% per year,<BR>> - angular and spectral multiplexed holograms result in cooler running cells<BR>> and useful light down to 0.25 suns.<BR>> <BR>> Rick has worked several years to get Prism Solar ready for primetime. See<BR>> their video and live test results and tell me what you think.<BR>> <BR>> Best regards,<BR>> Joel Davidson<BR>> <BR>> ----- Original Message -----<BR>> From: "Mark Dickson" <Mark@OasisMontana.com><BR>> To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org><BR>> Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:43 AM<BR>> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] The Genie Lens<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> > They claim that their film "should" last the 20 year lifespan of the<BR>> > modules. With most warranties at 25 years and modules lasting much longer<BR>> > than that, that claim does not do them much justice. I can't imagine<BR>> > modules will work very well with a tarnished or degrading film on them.<BR>> > Imagine how pissed a customer would be trying to peel that crap off after<BR>> > a<BR>> > few years getting baked in the sun.<BR>> > I am sure the module manus would love to disqualify any warranty claims<BR>> > that<BR>> > came back with this stuff on it.<BR>> ><BR>> > Also, they claim a 4-12.5% increase.<BR>> ><BR>> > Best regards,<BR>> ><BR>> > Mark Dickson,<BR>> > NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer T<BR>> > Oasis Montana Inc.<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > -----Original Message-----<BR>> > From: re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org<BR>> > [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Peter<BR>> > Parrish<BR>> > Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:17 AM<BR>> > To: 'RE-wrenches'<BR>> > Subject: [RE-wrenches] The Genie Lens<BR>> ><BR>> > Anybody know anything about these claims?<BR>> ><BR>> > SolOptics, the solar division of Genie Lens, has created a new lens design<BR>> > that improves solar PV performance by 12.5 percent. The new thin-film<BR>> > design<BR>> > can be applied to any PV module, just like a sticker. The new design is<BR>> > created by the company's ray tracing software that embosses<BR>> > microstructures<BR>> > onto thin polymer film. That film can then be applied to solar panels much<BR>> > like tinting film can be applied to a window. In testing, the<BR>> > microstructures in the lens improved PV efficiency by 10 to 12.5 percent.<BR>> ><BR>> > I think the claim of a "lens" is complete hogwash. As for being an<BR>> > anti-reflective coating, that might work, but reliability would be my<BR>> > concern (UV, heat, moisture). Think how many tinted car windows you have<BR>> > seen with blisters all over them?<BR>> ><BR>> > I am posting this for a client who is a really dedicated solar enthusiast<BR>> > and occasionally emails me with questions about solar technology.<BR>> ><BR>> > - Peter<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President<BR>> > California Solar Engineering, Inc.<BR>> > 820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065<BR>> > CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26<BR>> > peter.parrish@calsolareng.com<BR>> > Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > List sponsored by Home Power magazine<BR>> ><BR>> > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<BR>> ><BR>> > Options & settings:<BR>> > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org<BR>> ><BR>> > List-Archive:<BR>> > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org<BR>> ><BR>> > List rules & etiquette:<BR>> > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm<BR>> ><BR>> > Check out participant bios:<BR>> > www.members.re-wrenches.org<BR>> ><BR>> ><BR>> > _______________________________________________<BR>> > List sponsored by Home Power magazine<BR>> ><BR>> > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<BR>> ><BR>> > Options & settings:<BR>> > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org<BR>> ><BR>> > List-Archive:<BR>> > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org<BR>> ><BR>> > List rules & etiquette:<BR>> > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm<BR>> ><BR>> > Check out participant bios:<BR>> > www.members.re-wrenches.org<BR>> ><BR>> <BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> List sponsored by Home Power magazine<BR>> <BR>> List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<BR>> <BR>> Options & settings:<BR>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org<BR>> <BR>> List-Archive:<BR>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org<BR>> <BR>> List rules & etiquette:<BR>> www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm<BR>> <BR>> Check out participant bios:<BR>> www.members.re-wrenches.org<BR>> <BR><BR> </body>
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